Every year I tend to forget how bad my hay-fever was the previous year, and every year I say “It’s not been this bad for years.” This year though, I’ve got Carole telling me that she hasn’t seen me this bad for years. What is particularly bad is my asthma; every day attacks and some of those have been pretty scary. I don’t know if it’s just a bad year for pollen or if my bout with Covid last October has had an impact.
Had an asthma review on Monday, over the phone (go figure) which was basically me saying that I have had it all my life and know my body and symptoms. What I have got out of it is new anti-histamines, on prescription as against me buying either Loratadine or Cetirizine from Tesco (prescription £9.35 opposed to £3.99 for a pack of pills). These new ones are not purchasable from shops and as I’m now an old git, I no longer pay prescription charges. One bonus of getting old in the UK. I have to see how these go and I have another review in a fortnight where I may be prescribed new inhalers with added Steroids.
Separate to my allergies, they are looking at referring me to a ‘long Covid clinic.’
Around here it’s bad air from fire smoke. Since I had pneumonia in March I have to be on Advair twice a day and still cough a lot. I hope they can find the right combination for you. Take care.
Asthma is scary - watched my mother for many years and made emergency runs with her to hospital several nights. Add to that your seasonal allergies and I feel awfully bad for you. That's a nightmare combination.
Probably a combinatin Phil, very high pollen counts all over uk, you're an old person and you've lost lung capacity. Intrigued- how did they measure your peak-flow over the phone??
I would strongly suspect a brush with Covid having some input to this. Hope you can get useful help soon. I know there are several people needing ongoing help after having Covid as when I approached my physio for help with osteoarthritis she was too busy with long-covid rehab patients to even see me. She gave me the phone number of another physio who never returned my call. I send you all my best wishes.
@30pics4jackiesdiamond absolutely re the peak-flow assessment, that was my first question. The answer was fobbing me off. They have no intention of opening up any time soon.
These over the phone consultations can be a farce ! can't they !! Sounds as if it is a combination of things Phil - but I know Hayfever is bad this years - been on medication since April ! -( and still suffering !) Hope the new meds will help !
@beryl They certainly are. Our surgery slammed its door in March last year and is yet to reopen them. I don't think a GP has set foot in the nursing home Carole works in for around the same time.
@milaniet that sounds dreadful for you. I’ve had a couple in recent weeks when I’ve had to force myself not to panic to calm myself down to slow my breathing.
Hope your symptoms improve soon. Our doctors is much the same they will do anything to avoid a patient having to actually attend an appointment. The irony is it just pushes people to A&E which increases the pressure on already strained Hospitals. Still with the current clown in power I guess not much will change for the forceable furture!
Phil, thanks! I have given up that avenue and next week start hydrotherapy in the new Winchester Leisure Centre. I have to have a hp op. The consultant says my hip is 'locked solid. For a couple of years I have been trying everything under the sun to get it better but now I cannot walk unaided so it's crunch time....
@quietpurplehaze Think I was almost meditating waiting for Carole to come home the other week. Had to write on my phone and show her the message “please go upstairs and get my inhaler” as I couldn’t move with my breathing.
@monikozi Blue one is the reliever. The brown one (which in previous years was a dark brown not this colour) is the preventer. That is supposed to stop me needing the blue one (the dose has now changed on it so we shall see)
@phil_sandford When I called my GP in the spring to get an appointment for my annual checkup they asked me a gazillion questions to make sure I wasn’t sick before coming into their office… it is a very different world now. I hope you see an improvement with the asthma and allergies soon Phil… sounds rather scary.
oh dang, that sucks! and with al the crap that is going on in the world does not make it easier. I hope the meds make it stay under control. Mouth to mouth may help as well, just saying Carol :)))))
I'm so sorry you're suffering so much. COVID has only highlighted the meager state of medicine. A medical phone visit sounds like a blind date. All the very best.
Oh my. Well asthma is serious. I don’t doubt that long term side effects from having Covid would affect your asthmatic lungs. Gee whiz, it’s always something.
Hope these chemicals work for you xxx
Phil, thanks! I have given up that avenue and next week start hydrotherapy in the new Winchester Leisure Centre. I have to have a hp op. The consultant says my hip is 'locked solid. For a couple of years I have been trying everything under the sun to get it better but now I cannot walk unaided so it's crunch time....
Take care!
That's scary to cope with. All the very best.